Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Garbai Ibn Umar El kanemi
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri-
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Garbai has said that the entire members of the Borno State Council of Emirs and Chiefs and their families are definitely willingly to take the COVID19 vaccine whenever it is available in the state.
Alhaji Garbai, who is also The Deputy National President of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), added that the traditional council would surely comply with the State Governor’s directives on COVID-19 vaccination.
The Royal Father who stated this in an interview with newsmen in his palace in Maiduguri, further said that the state had experienced outbreak of pandemic in the past like polio, malaria, yellow fever, measles, of which vaccinations were administered and better the health of the people among others.
According to him, “the vaccine is good for health and that is the reason why even the President, Vice President, top government officials and state governors as well as other personalities have taken the vaccine and we will also take the vaccine”.
“We shall also mobilise and direct our subjects including all the district heads, village heads and their families as well as servants. Even all the people of the State to take it. Because it is good and government will not being anything bad to the people”.
“In the whole of the state, Borno Emirate is the largest with 27 LGAs, having the largest numbers of district and village heads and village heads”.
“We are in support and we will definitely take it for our own good and we will also ask our people to follow and take it. We know there will be some people that will not be interested but we appeal to all to take it whenever it is made available to us”, he said.
The Royal Father further explained that all the traditional, ethnic, religious and business community leaders would be carried along in order to mobilize their followers to accept the vaccine when it made available to the State.
His Eminence who assured the people of Borno that the vaccine is safe and for the interest of everybody, also noted that he would personally take the Covid-19 vaccine jab when made available to the state.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno Stater, Bishop Williams Naga has called on the entire Christian community in the state to accept and take the vaccine.
Bishop Naga said that the vaccine has been certified safe by health experts for the people before it was administered to the people, in Nigeria and other places.
He however enjoined the State Government to make sure the vaccine reaches the vulnerable people, who are most susceptible to the virus in the society especially at the IDPs camps.
Bishop Naga urged the Christians community to take the COVID-19 in good faith in the interest of all.